I was pretty happy yesterday. I actually set some goals and stuck tot them and I got everything accomplished that I set out to do. By the time I was finished it was about 10pm. That left just enough time for me to unwind a bit and visit with my friends online before heading off to bed. I know that every day can’t be like that, but once in a while it is nice to know that it can work.

The one thing that is the top of my list that I did accomplish was creating the pattern for the trio of plaques that I showed yesterday. I suppose that took up the most time, but it included doing the photography, writing the instructions and doing the final adjustments for the line work. Yesterday it was brought up that I had two of the Damask designs cut off, as I had placed them a bit off center on the plaques. While I did this intentionally, it was mentioned that some may not want to do them that way. So I decided to add the extra linework into the pattern so the full design of each of the three motifs would be there for those who feel they want it. It was no big deal to me, as I had originally drawn each of them up in a full design, and I thought if it would make people happy than why not?

I also needed to take better pictures of the plaques than what I showed yesterday. I don’t think that the birds showed up very well in the pictures that I posted. I had taken them on the fly the evening before after a full day’s work and I consider them ‘snapshots’ and not really the quality of work that I like to include with my patterns. I often do that for the blog here, as I just want to give you an idea of what I am working on, but the final photographs require a little more thought and effort. After a couple of attempts, what I settled on was this:

I think these will do nicely. I plan to get the patterns up on the site today and start working on the next set, as I have several ideas of where I would like to go with this type of design.

I will post them as projects as soon as the pattern is available.

i finished up right before dinner, and after I ate I was able to finally get back to doing some painting. It had been over a week since I had the extra time to do so and I was anxious to finish my day lily from my color wheel project. (The orange flower) I had progressed as far as the first bud and needed to finish it off:

For those of you who didn’t read my post, I have been working on a project from Mary Kingslan Gibilisco called the “Colour Wheel Wreath of Flowers”. It included ten different flowers placed in a wreath, and each of the flowers progressed using the colors of the color wheel. In completing the project, we learned to mix ten different color families of the color wheel, as well as our leaf colors. It is a great exercise in color theory and I am learning quite a bit by doing it. However, I didn’t want a large picture of a wreath, so I chose to paint each flower individually on a 5” x 5” Baltic birch board. This way I can make a small vignette or even use the pieces as a coaster set. I am painting this more for the learning experience than the display.

Since I was dividing the flowers up though, I found it necessary to add my own leaves and filler flowers in some instances. After all, I want the tiles to look nice, even if it is a practice exercise. As you can see in the picture above, I had drawn some leaves to fill in the picture a little, but I wasn’t happy with them, as they really weren’t correct.

I took some photos of the day lily flowers here in my own neighborhood and I decided to make pods as the real flower had instead. I think it looks a lot better and more natural than the leaves would have looked.

I am really happy with how they are turning out. i may wind up making some note cards of them or something like that. The important thing is that I am learning a great deal about mixing colors and color in general. It is a great lesson and anyone who is interested can see it at Mary’s site here: Color Wheel Wreath

The class is also available on video if you subscribe to their Online Classes, which allow access to over 75 patterns and videos. It is an unbeatable deal and Mary is one of the best teachers around. For anyone that is thinking of learning to paint, I highly recommend it.

We are truly fortunate to live in a time when we have access to such wonderful things. Even though some may feel that the internet can be intrusive at times, I always think about all the friends I have made and all the things I have learned and the positive experiences that it brings. I follow the simple rule of ‘if you don’t want it public, then don’t type it’ and so far that philosophy has served me well. I really love having the world at my fingertips.

Well, that should do it for today. Here it is Friday already and yet another week is coming to a close. I hope you all have a great day today. It is a bit overcast here, but calm. We will see what the day will bring.

Good for you Sheila! Goal setting is so important to actually accomplishing. A step I am glad you reminded me of. As I’ve said before, I have a lot of projects in the works and now realize that merely saying ‘I want to…’ is not the same as ‘This is what I WILL do today.’ The OCD in me noticed that you rearranged the order of the plaques. Does it bother Keith when contestants on the game show JEOPARDY! chose answers/questions out of order? Drives me nuts!The lily came out beautifully well. These flowers grow wild along the roads here in Oklahoma and are among my favorite flowers. I am missing work today due to an eye infection. Don’t want to infect my patients or coworkers (I wouldn’t wish this on ANYBODY!). Will get better with drops the doctor Rx’d, and time. Not too sick to get in some shop time, though! Gotta set some goals!

Morning, Candy:Yes – I saw the painting project being put on the back burner over and over again. I just purchased a whole new line of paints to try (DecoArt Traditions) and it was a big investment for me, as I am not a wealthy woman with lots of money to throw around. I had considered getting the paints for nearly two years and always talked myself out of it because I didn’t know if I would have the time or energy to tackle a new endeavor. But I finally got to the point where I felt I deserved to do something that I wanted to do. And learning this type of painting is something that I have wanted to do for a very long while. There is ALWAYS new stuff to learn and I need to take at least a day off per week and some evenings after a full day of work in order to do frivolous things like this that make me happy. Otherwise I would begin to resent my job (Even though I have the best job in the world!) and run the risk of burning out as so many self-employed people do. So I took the plunge, and come hell or high water I am going to take the time to work on these! :)

That being said, I truly feel that setting goals is the key to achieving. Without distinct goals, we seldom accomplish what we would like.

I hope your eye clears up fast. Be careful in that shop (although I am sure you know that!) and try to keep the dust away from it. :)

Have a great weekend and thank you again for your nice comments and support!

Enjoy seeing what you are working on. I could never adapt to acrylics as I am not a fast painter or a slow painter but a half fast painter. Used to work in oils and one lesson I learned was that whatever color you used you always use 5 values of that color. Surely adds depth to the work.

Yes, Kepy – This project teaches how to mix values of the same color and apply them to the flowers. As you can see, it really makes for nice color transitions. Many don’t understand that mixing is really EASIER than choosing from 300+ colors as we do with acrylics. These are Genesis Heat Set Oils. I can’t use traditional oils because I get sick from them, but the Genesis are made by the same people who make Fimo Clay and as with the clay – they never dry until they are heated. Mine are over 10 years old and still work wonderfully. No mess or smell either. You clean the brush with alcohol and the paint comes right out. Your brushes last longer too because the paint never dries in them. All around – a great alternative to oils with many of the properties that oils have. :)

I am a slow painter as well and find that a wet palette helps. The new paints I just purchased are DecoArt Traditions, which have a longer drying time than the regular acrylics and are made to be mixed like oils. I will certainly report on how they perform when I try them. :)

Good morning Sheila. I’ll be snapping up those plaque patterns when you post them on the website. I already know who is getting one for Christmas and how I would do it! You really do help keep my brain alive! I love the painting you have done and I’m going to look into those on line courses once the long evening hit again and I can’t get out to the workshop. I like the way the colours are blended and I certainly have a lot to learn about colour mixing. Rain here today – the first we have had in 33 days. It does make everything smell so fresh again and my garden is loving it!Enjoy the day.

Hi, Anna – I am glad you finally got your rain. I am sure everything needed it. It sounds like you are having a wonderful summer. I am glad to hear it. Winter will be here soon enough and yes – it will be even busier.